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Belize's Premier Striker Won't Play World Cup Qualifier?
posted (March 19, 2015)
Belize's Football Federation is getting ready to play its first world cup qualifier for 2015 - and it will be against Cayman on Thursday March 25th. But the list of the players that was sent out yesterday does not include the country's most prolific striker Dion McCauley. He's in Atlanta where he just finished a one year contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks and is exploring his professional opportunities. He says he's fully recovered from a sports hernia surgery five months ago and practicing two times a day. So, why hasn't he gotten a call to play on the national team? That's what he asked on a Facebook video blog today:..

Deon McCauley, Striker
"I just want everybody out there to know that I am not hurt and it's not my fault that I won't be on the National Team this time around, but at the same time I want to support the guys and hope they do good. I don't know why I wasn't called to the National Team this time around, but at the same time I have to understand that everybody have their own evaluation of every situation."

To know that he's healthy but hasn't been called to play is highly questionable - so we called McCauley in Atlanta today where he told us - he's as clueless as we are as to why his name is not on the roster:..

Deon McCauley, Striker
"Everyone is assuming that Dean McCauley is hurt or injured. They are assuming that I am inactive and I am not doing anything, but that is not the case. I am training, I am working out hard. I am almost 100% fit. I don't know what is the situation with the federation. Nobody has contacted me from the federation concerning the National Team. They are claiming that they had invited me to a meeting in November and that is not true. Nobody has invited me to any meeting. So, I really don't know why my name is not on that list or why I am treated like some ordinary player. They are not treating with the respect that I deserved. With all the international exposure that I have and the experience and the caliber that I bring to the National Team and to club teams. I don't see why I am not given that right selection."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you want to play with Belize's National Team as you have so many times before?"

Deon McCauley, Striker
"Yes, of course. This is a big tournament. These people are making this thing like its nothing and this is World Cup qualifier. This is for the World Cup in Russia in 2018. Why wouldn't I want to be there? I always want to be in the National Team no matter what."

Jules Vasquez
"How could it be that the person who scored 8 goals in 6 matches in the last round in 2011, hasn't been even given a call?"

Deon McCauley, Striker
"From the federation, no. Nobody has call me from the federation, not Mr. Vicente, not the secretary, not anybody. My parents gave them my number, so that they can reached me and nobody has call me from there. I know that a lot of the fans are wanting some answers. They want to know what's happening. A lot of people out there keep asking my family why am I not on the team and I am trying to fix the problem. But obviously I am not getting anywhere."

Jules Vasquez
"You think that maybe it's a money issue Deon?"

Deon McCauley, Striker
"I wouldn't know if it's a money issue. I don't know if it's a political issue. I don't know what the issue is. I am always open for negotiations. I like to communicate with people that want to communicate me."

The Football Federation of Belize will have a press conference tomorrow where we'll hear what they have to say about McCauley's absence from the roster.

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